15 Wrestlers Outside WWE Who Just Need To Quit (And 10 From WWE Who Should Do The Same)

Professional wrestling has indeed come a long way from where it has been—especially the eighties. It is so much a part of our popular culture that many who have put on the tights and laced up the boots have also parlayed their skills into film, music and television. Indeed there have been many successful runs enjoyed by many young men and women in all facets of sports entertainment.

This being said, there are indeed many that have passed through the walls of many wrestling territories and sadly have left little or no impact at all. Such is the case for some of the wrestlers on today’s list, as we have comprised a list of wrestlers that need to quit from both outside and inside the WWE rosters.

Now, when we say that a wrestler should just up and join the unemployment line, it no doubt serves up negative connotations. But au contraire our dear Sportster readers… there are in fact some wrestlers who made the list that need to quit for other reasons, differentiating themselves from others on the list that in fact aren’t all that great at what they do. Curious? We knew you would be. Grab a soda, kick off the shoes and take a gander at our list.

25 Should Quit From Outside WWE: Cheeseburger

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Well… the name kind of says it all doesn’t it? I mean, hey, wrestlers have always had quirky names, as the business has always had somewhat of an affinity with the old traveling circus; therefore, names like this kind of go with the territory. He does his wrestling at the infamous Ring of Honor, or ROH as it’s known amongst more dedicated wrestling fans. He is also a head trainer at the dojo associated with the small company.

Although he is a fan favourite among ROH fans, he is used mostly as a jobber, losing most if not all of his many matches.

He definitely has talent, but at the same time, if he doesn’t put all that talent to good use, then eventually even his supporters will tire of his antics and look for something or somebody else they can cheer for. Most times wrestlers get caught up in the momentum, not realizing that their gimmicks will soon bore even the most enthusiastic of fans. We say: he should cut his losses and concentrate on training future champions that can move through the business with ease, accumulating stimulating angles and gimmicks.

24 Should Quit From Outside WWE: Chris Sabin

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When Vince McMahon purchased the WCW in 2001 he did something that most fans of wrestling never thought possible. It was indeed an impressive feat, considering that the company had almost put him out of business not 4-5 years earlier. But at the same time, in purchasing his competition, he single-handedly wrecked the business that had given him his own empire. The business suffered greatly because of this and if for no one else, but the wrestlers themselves. There aren’t many places to wrestle these days, or at least wrestle for a decent salary. The WWE represents the single most dominant force in the pro wrestling industry and the other territories and companies are well… small potatoes, let’s be honest.

This is where a guy like Chris Sabin comes in. Here’s a guy who has had a rich and storied career, and all in the smaller companies. How much time will it take for stars like him to be given a chance? He’s at the point now where he’s accomplished a lot, and we’re sorry, but it’s the time for him to weigh his options. Either quit and call it a day, or move on to bigger and better things. It’s his choice, but if he plans to stay in small companies, twiddling his thumbs, we vote it’s time to quit, good buddy.

23 Should Quit From WWE: The Undertaker

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The Undertaker has given the wrestling world countless hours of entertainment. “The Dead Man,” has ushered many to their own retirements and many to their own end as he rose through the company since 1990. Yes, it has indeed been a whopping 28 years and honestly, he should have called it a quits at 25, some believe. Learning how to go out on top is a feat fit only for the graceful, like Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart, and it’s key in leaving behind a lasting memory of a great career gone by without clouding it with a few bad years at the end.

No doubt, Taker was a prominent force in the world of sports entertainment and he has done a lot and deserves respect, but sadly, we feel it’s time to go. There have been many rumours that he gets pressure from Vince McMahon to keep coming back, as Vince is known to be quite the superstitious fellow and he feels that a WrestleMania without The Undertaker is a bad omen. Of course, Vince needs to get over that, and soon. And Taker should most definitely do the responsible thing and call it a quits.

22 Should Quit From Outside WWE: Gregory Shane Helms

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Gregory Helms never really caught on as a wrestler. Now as a persona, we’d have to say that he did at one time enjoy a period of fame, or rather infamy… you be the judge. After a run in WCW where he worked alongside a few other wrestlers as part of a boy band tag team gimmick, he made the move to WWE along with many other wrestlers. He had a difficult time getting used to the way things worked at the WWE, as did many other wrestlers, many of them not surviving the transition.

But survive the transition he did, and just when he was about to give up, opportunity arose.

He was granted the opportunity to wear the green cape and mask as The Hurricane. The character caught on big time, but only as the comic relief and not at all as a serious character. Did he have wrestling skills? Perhaps and probably. But the more appropriate question is did he get a chance to display them? Not really. His time in wrestling will go down as being a pretty funny guy and that’s about it. He still wrestles today at Ring of Honor, but it’s fair to say that he’d probably be better off using his charisma as an actor.

21 Should Quit From Outside WWE: Jay Lethal

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Ah, yes… Jay Lethal. He’s got a great name, but does he have what it takes? Good question, but it comes a little too late, we’re afraid, as he’s been in the business for quite some time and he hasn’t caused a big splash, pardon the pun. He’s been in the business since about 2005, and he has worked many of the territories, originating in Jersey right at about that time. He worked his way through some minor companies, spending some considerable time in TNA, probably the closest he’s made it to the big leagues, seeing that TNA had a decent run on Spike TV for quite some time and the company did get a little notoriety. He currently wrestles at ROH.

But in all honesty, like so many others on this list… if his career hasn’t sparked yet, it probably isn’t going to happen. We feel that maybe, he should call it a day and be done with it. He’s had some great matches and worked with some of the best in the business, like Ric Flair and Samoa Joe (who is seriously one of the greatest talents around today), but Jay needs to think about how long he’s willing to play in the small yard.

20 Should Quit From WWE: Chad Gable

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Not everybody can be the next Kurt Angle. Yes, that’s a rather broad statement, but it’s true… it’s most definitely true. He and only he was able to parlay his amateur wrestling background into a fruitful and lucrative professional wrestling career, but what’s that expression? Often imitated, but never duplicated. Yes, there was Brock Lesnar, but his first run ended rather badly and embarrassingly. And of course there was Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas, but they both had intermittent careers… probably a few more as well, but Kurt Angle started in the business soon after winning a gold medal in the amateurs, and when he showed up, he made a huge noise in the business and showed just as much dedication if not more when applying himself to his new branch of wrestling.

This is what was and is missing with a lot of the younger talent. Which brings us to young master Gable, who no doubt has the mat skills to go up against anyone on the current roster. What a lot of these young dudes need is time in the independents. As Jim Ross always said, working on the independent circuit builds character, skill and the experience necessary to make it in the big leagues. We feel Gable, who lacks a certain amount of conviction, needs to quit for a tad and maybe work the circuit for a while.

19 Should Quit From Outside WWE: Rhett Titus

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Here’s another young man that has been around for quite a number of years. He debuted in 2006. He was trained by ROH and worked there as well as other promotions since his start in the business. Yet he has yet to be graced with an invitation to join the ranks at the big leagues. Ring of Honor, Impact Wrestling and the other territories provide fans with other platforms to display their techniques and skills. They are indeed awesome places to learn, but if you end up staying there for your whole career, it doesn’t look all that well.

Those places are meant to start the careers of wrestlers, teaching them the ropes—in the minds of most fans, even if they won’t admit it. It’s indeed a great thing to see wrestlers break free from those smaller companies and get granted opportunities at the big stage. Wrestlers who have gotten those chances have made the most of it, and look at how awesome it is to see. Some examples: AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and Bobby Roode just to name a few. Rhett Titus has yet to make that move and time has pretty much run out. It’s probably time to move on.

18 Should Quit From Outside WWE: Abyss

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This gentleman (or gentle giant) has been around since 1995, or so. Abyss has wrestled in quite a few promotions, namely TNA and/or Impact wrestling as it’s now mostly known. He has had countless feuds and with the cream of the crop. He has given much to the sport of professional wrestling and like the Undertaker, deserves all the respect and accolades thrown his way. But now, 23 years after he started in this business, the time has come to say goodbye to the canvas, as his time has surely come and gone.

Many have often wondered why he never made it to the WWE, as he was tailor-made for Vince McMahon’s company, who has been pitting giants against average-sized men since Hulk body slammed the Giant in 1987. There are many that believe the reason for this is fear. It must be intimidating to have been a big fish in a small pond, and suddenly be given a chance to be a small fish in a large pond. This is no doubt a reservation that many in the business have had, and this phenomenon has probably plagued many wrestlers; some of whom have found a home on this list.

17 Should Quit From WWE: Curtis Axel

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We sure have written about this young man considerably over the last few months, and that’s because there is indeed a lot to be said about him… but not all of it good. We all know that he is a third generation wrestler, and his dynasty is definitely impressive… his father Curt Hennig was one of the greatest mat wrestlers and extraordinary personalities of all time. Yet Axel, over here, can’t seem to cut the mustard. He has tried to win audiences over, but to no avail. His gimmick seems to be over exhausted and forced and his in ring ability doesn’t come anywhere close to his father’s grace and panache.

To say that this young man needs to call it a day and try his hand at something else is a grave and glaring understatement.

He obviously has some technique and there is a quality to him, so maybe he can transfer to working as a road agent or trainer. That could possibly be more up his aisle, because being a full-time wrestler seems to be a bit too much for this so called better than perfect wrestler to handle.

16 Should Quit From Outside WWE: Scott Steiner

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This gentleman needs no introduction. He’s had an impeccable career—not without its ups and downs of course—that is definitely for the books. He has had a storied career that spans many, many years and he’s wrestled with some of the top names in the sport. Like The Undertaker, he deserves respect and a lot of it as he has most definitely paid some serious dues.

A former member of the prominent NOW, he helped sell out shows in WCW and transitioned well wherever he wrestled. He had a decent return run in the WWE, feuding with Triple H, and then spent most of the time since at TNA. He actually still wrestles at Impact, albeit looking quite different from the last time you’ve seen him. He’s lost most of those muscles he showed off from town to town. Albeit, that’s because of a terrible trachea injury and of course age has a lot to do with it. Yet he’s still wrestling and we’ve got to say that maybe it’s time to quit, as he’s ruining any chances he has at going out on top and leaving a positive everlasting memory behind.

15 Should Quit From Outside WWE: Sami Callihan

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Sami Callihan currently wrestles for Impact and Lucha Underground. He worked the independent circuit and actually had a small run at WWE. He spent a few years there … three years to be exact. But only ever wrestled in NXT and only ever had untelevised “dark matches.” That definitely wasn’t a good sign. He finished his time there with an injury and once he healed up, he was back to the independent circuit, eventually finding work at Lucha Underground in 2016 and Impact in 2017.

For wrestling fans around the world, stories like this are not uncommon. Many wrestlers have opportunities that don’t pan out in the end, and for young Mr. Sami Callihan, it would be no different. This establishes a pattern that is unfortunately repeated by many wrestlers vying for that top spot, or at least a decent spot on the WWE roster. For Callihan, maybe it was divine intervention and his lost chance was probably a good sign signifying the fact that a WWE career wasn’t in the cards for him. I didn’t mean to get philosophical here, but sometimes, you got to listen to the signs.

14 Should Quit From WWE: Dean Ambrose

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There’s something about this young man that rubs people the wrong way. He can’t seem to catch a break with some fans and maybe that’s well deserved unless he does something about that. If he can, all the better, but if he can’t, maybe it’s time to hang up the jeans and attitude. When he first premiered he did quite well, and as a part of The Shield, he was rather impressive, with the support of others. But on his own, despite the fact that many were excited to see how he would do, disappointed many.

He has a bit of an attitude and a complete lack of interest that is rather apparent. And if he’s acting, it’s the wrong impression he’s giving off, because that “too cool for school attitude with a chip on your shoulder,” went out with torn jeans and fanny packs. The complete disrespect he showed Steve Austin on Steve’s podcast, was absolutely abysmal. They should have fired him based on that alone, and he should have quit from embarrassment. He actually accused Steve Austin for “putting him on blast!” Really? If Steve Austin wants to ask you a question… you answer, and that’s the bottom line.

13 Should Quit From Outside WWE: DJZ

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Honestly, if there was ever a more un-charismatic wrestler, I can’t remember who it would be. The hairspray king over here definitely has some serious skill. We can’t hate on him in any way, and we can’t lie. But, at the same time, can we excuse his inability to further his character? Wrestlers are actors, in part, and they should treat their craft as such, there is no doubt. If they have an inability to convey those feelings from the fans, either of adoration or hate, then they haven’t done their job. This dude seems to have no conviction either way and to be completely honest, it bugs the heck out of us.

He started wrestling in 2003 and worked his way through the territories in the independent circuit, eventually making it to TNA and now Impact Wrestling. He’s been stuck in the mud, so to speak, and it’s his own fault, as he’s done nothing to further his chances at improving his circumstances. He has never made it to the WWE, and we feel for good reason, as we question his ability to take the schedule, but we may never know. We feel he should quit while he’s ahead.

12 Should Quit From WWE: Fandango

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This young man has wrestled on the independent circuit and did so from 1999 to 2006. That is indeed impressive, and it’s what should be looked for in young talent. He debuted in the WWE in 2006, but it wasn’t until 2012 that he debuted as the character, Fandango, a ballroom dancing wrestler. The gimmick caught on with the casual fan, but for the fans that had been watching for years met the premiering of such a character with more than mixed reviews.

Now, all these years later, the character, as well as the wrestler has indeed gotten stale. And yes, the name change to Breezango was by no means an improvement. The WWE still seems to have that problem with Gimmicks. They seem to have learned nothing in this department from the attitude era and the losses they suffered during the Monday night wars. It was because of gimmicks and characters like this that weren’t working with the majority of the audience. And yes, the audience has changed, but audiences are fickle and it won’t be long before the “universe” starts looking for characters based off of reality once again.

11 Should Quit From Outside WWE: El Hijo Del Fantasma

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Another question we have to ask is, is there a place for luchadors in the mainstream wrestling business? We’ll have to say, absolutely on that one. The lucha style is one of the most entertaining styles of wrestling out there. In the mid-nineties, Eric Bischoff introduced the cruiserweights on WCW programming and most nights, they stole the show—another stroke of genius on his part by the way—and many great talented wrestlers came to light during that period. Mainly, Rey Mysterio Jr., who not only embodied the whole movement, but also defined the modern era of the lucha style.

But, how to define a good lucha is where the trouble lies. Here’s yet another example of often imitated, yet never duplicated. There have indeed been many charlatan luchas since the dawn of Mexican wrestling and not all have been as good as their preceding reputations. In walks… El Hijo del Fantasma. On the surface, he’s a decent wrestler. But legendary? We think not. He wrestles in Lucha Underground and Impact Wrestling, but his efforts have not yet reached the eyes and ears of many, therefore, he should probably quit while he’s ahead.

10 Should Quit From WWE: No Way Jose

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No Way Jose!? That’s our line. If there’s anybody that should call it a day, it’s this dude. He worked the independent circuit for three years. But in all honesty that’s no way paying enough dues, considering how many wrestlers have spent a decade or more entertaining smaller crowds. He showed up at NXT in 2015 and has recently been promoted to Raw. And if you ask us, it’s much too soon. Is it just me, or do a lot of the NXT guys look a little hesitant in the ring? The fluidity of their motions isn’t at par yet with a lot of the wrestlers on the more experienced side of the roster.

They seem to continuously be learning as opposed to giving off the impression of being masters at their trade, which is all what being a wrestler is about… the confidence. And yes, crowd participation is high when he walks in dancing and trying to pump up the crowd, but let’s get down to the nitty-gritty here: isn’t it supposed to be all about the wrestling? And at the end of the day, someone like Jose doesn’t deliver the goods, yet. Maybe down the line, but not yet.

9 Should Quit From Outside WWE: Caleb Konley

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Now here’s a youngster who hasn’t been wrestling for all that long… at a significant company that is. He seemed to appear as if from nowhere, having his debut at Impact Wrestling only in 2016. But before that, he spent a whopping 10 years on the independent circuit. We normally would have had high hopes for a prospect like this, but he disappointed early on, his matches not at all what was expected from such a seasoned independent wrestler.

Yes… he’s very athletic and has the look, but I can’t help but feel like I’m watching a match in a high school auditorium when I watch him on the mat. Albeit, he was a major rising star, having held 3 of the major championships in the West Coast Wrestling Connection. But again, big fish, small pond. It’s funny how often that can come up these days in professional wrestling, isn’t it? We feel that it wouldn’t be right for him to continue at this point, as he is indeed 34. If he hasn’t made an impact, again, pardon the pun, we don’t think he’ll be hitting the big time anytime soon.

8 Should Quit From WWE: Rezar

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Here we go again. Not everybody can be Brock Lesnar (the second time around). Here’s another real life fighter, whose skills at mixed martial arts garnered him quite the reputation in Bellator MMA, makes him think that he can hack it as a professional wrestler. Real fighters are just that… real fighters. And at the end of the day, their skills are made to inflict much pain as possible on their opponents in the ring until they win by either knock out or submission. In professional wrestling, it’s the exact opposite and not only are you pulling your punches, but you’re making it look as real and as graceful as possible.

Rezar had an impressive fighting career, indeed, and he does seem like a beast, which helps in wrestling, but at the same time, he seems all wrong for the pro wrestling platform designed in the WWE. Yes, he’s big, he’s strong, but do we need yet another take no bull mammoth who scowls and breathes hard trying to impress the fans? Has it come to this, that we’ll keep repeating the same old stuff over and over again, trying out gimmicks that let’s be honest, failed in the 90s. Where are this generation’s Austin’s, Michaels’ and The Rock’s? Who knows? We just know that this dude needs to go see about getting his old job back at tearing people apart for real.

7 Should Quit From Outside WWE: Fallah Bahh

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Is it just me, or is watching Fallah Bahh wrestle, like taking a trip down memory lane, watching Yokozuna tear up an opponent? Yeah? The same mannerisms, the same techniques, the same finishing move? Flattery, or simply imitation because of a lack of originality? You’d probably be right, venturing for either answer, as the young man sure is limited in originality. To make it in the professional wrestling industry, an individual needs to be original if he’s going to make a lasting impression. Take Ryback, for example … he was a Goldberg clone and pretty much was phased out, his position at WWE dwindling in security with every passing day.

I mean, the fact that he wore a beard instead of a goatee like Goldberg didn’t change the fact that he was almost a carbon copy of Goldberg. The same goes for Fallah Bahh, and if he doesn’t come up with something new pretty soon, he too will be labeled an imitator of the legends and will fade out eventually. He worked the independents for a while and now wrestles for Impact, but we figure he should quit while he’s a head. Maybe return to the independents, or give it up all together.

6 Should Quit From WWE: Scott Dawson

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Well, I hate to say it, but if ever there was a face that would define the term jobber, we would have to say it was Scott Dawson. He started wrestling professionally as early as 2004, and he worked the independents until 2012, at which time, he made the WWE in the form of NXT. It was there that he wrestled the likes of Samoa Joe and lost terribly to him, time and time again, Joe sometimes beating him in less than two minutes. Hence the term … Jobber.

Unfortunately there are many in the wrestling business that are doomed to live such an existence, losing time and time again in order to make “the other guy” look good.

But this is the way things go and have gone in a business that’s way older than social media. And furthermore, there are those who do and did it better than others. Does anyone remember Spike Dudley? Who can forget him, and if you don’t know he is, go do your homework. As for Scott Dawson… maybe taking over your dad’s Saab dealership wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

5 Should Quit From Outside WWE: Shawn Hernandez

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This man paid his dues and worked some decent angles in TNA while the company had its run on Spike TV. He even got the chance to work with wrestling royalty in the form of Chavo Guerrero, and that’s no small feat, trust me. But his inability to move forward and garner himself more chances than he has had, makes us think it’s time for him to hang up the trunks and boots. He debuted in 1996 and made his way to TNA by 2003. He performed well and made a decent name and reputation for himself and no doubt earned the respect he garnered for himself.

Hernandez still wrestles for Impact Wrestling--having moved around a bit-- in their new format and even had some decent angles, even wrestling The Blueprint Matt Morgan. The height, however, came at the teaming with Guerrero, as we mentioned before, and it’s nothing to frown upon. The problem is where he’s gone since. Not too far, we’re afraid. He should consider calling it a quits, as he can still go out with a decent reputation and a decent end to a pretty good career.

4 Should Quit From WWE: Zack Ryder

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Zack Ryder was indeed an original, but in this case, maybe a little too original for his own good. He started as an online sensation and definitely had the support of a lot of fans, and when we say a lot, we mean legions. The thing was though, he didn’t do too much with that momentum. The way things have worked in the WWE in the past, is that you have to be a go-getter, working hard to keep up with the schedule all the while being creative and available to move forward at any cost. Does that mean stepping on a few toes? Indeed, but many wrestlers have done this… as Dwayne Johnson called the WWE landscape: “Shark infested waters.”

This young man might be a little too nice for that, and it’s sad to say, but this is why he hasn’t capitalized on his many opportunities. And the opportunities didn’t only come in the form of fan support. He definitely got a lot of support and pushes from management, even winning the prestigious Intercontinental championship at WrestleMania 32 in a ladder match. But where to from there? Maybe it’s time to move on. Woo Woo Woo... You know it.

3 Should Quit From Outside WWE: Homicide

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He has had a storied career that started way back in 1993. And he wrestled extensively in a variety of territories and multiple organizations. He has also wrestled many great stars in the field which include AJ Styles, Colt Cabana, Christopher Daniels and many other great wrestlers. And probably his time at New Japan Pro marks his most successful and more prominent run in the business. But despite his long run in the independents, a lack of drive is and has been apparent throughout his career, his momentum slowing every now and again… and seemingly always at the worst possible time.

This seems to plague many wrestlers and for similar reasons. These reasons can be plentiful, but most often, it seems that a lot of the talent in this difficult industry comes at the hands of trying to keep up with such a gruelling schedule. Like everything else in life, it isn’t that hard to keep up with. It’s hard enough for normal civilians to keep in shape, but for wrestlers… it’s even harder. They need to eat right, and make it to the Gym at least 3 times a week in order to stay in tip-top shape, all the while sticking to a gruelling travel schedule. Maybe his life has caught up to him and it’s time to say goodbye.

2 Should Quit From WWE: Tyler Breeze

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Another prima donna. Ever since Rick Rude graced us with his presence and his charisma, many have tried to capitalize on the same type of gimmick. This young man is doing alright for now, but much like Fallah, he should learn to be a little more original in his delivery and his character that’s based more on the past than anything else. The self-described “Prince Pretty” needs to hit the weights as far as we’re concerned. We know that the newer age of wrestlers is quite smaller compared to former generations, but Breeze comes in at 160 maximum.

I don’t know about all of you, but that’s small. Why push him and not Dolph Ziggler, who’s been working and moving forward within the company since 2004 roundabouts. The direction the company has taken is no doubt the wrong move. We know they’re trying to distance themselves from the steroid scandals of the past, but please, a heavyweight wrestler should be a heavyweight after all. Yes, Tyler is flexible and speedy in the ring, but for us, the gimmick is just that… a gimmick and it won’t work for long. We suggest a change of character, or at least a revamp. If not, he should be looking for other employment elsewhere.

1 Should Quit From Outside WWE: Kongo Kong

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Believe it or not, this gentleman has been wrestling for 20 years. He has competed on the independent circuit, Global Force Wrestling and Impact Wrestling, where he currently wrestles. He gives off a very imposing and threatening composure, but when you look at him long enough, that original feeling of fear and doom seems to dissipate quite quickly. Because once you look past all the face paint and scary visage, all you see is just another athlete trying desperately to make a lasting impression, as is the job of most wrestlers. He too falls in to the category of trying too hard, perhaps. Maybe a little too hard, especially these days.

He is no doubt a 400 pound monster and gives off an impressive first impression that goes a little something like this: This dude can hurt me,” and that’s all fine and dandy, until you see him try to act the part—that’s where it all falls apart, friends. We figure that possibly, it may be time for the dude to say farewell to the whole game, as we’re not really buying it anymore. It’s either that or a complete make-over.